OF THE DIA COULD EVENTUALLY BE ON THE LINE. BUT FIRST. CONTAGIOUS ILLNESS SPREADING THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SO FAR TWO DOZEN STUDENTS SICK. GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US AT 11:00. WHOOPING COUGH IS DANGEROUS AND HAS BEEN ON THE RISE. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ANN ARBOR IS ALARM I BELIEVE. STUDENTS AT FOUR SCHOOLS DIAGNOSED. AND OUR BISI ONILE-ERE, IS LIVE TONIGHT. BISI, A SIMPLE VACCINE COULD HAVE LIKELY PREVENTED MOST OF THESE CASES? THAT'S VERY TRUE CARMEN. MOST VAC SIN NATIONALED AGAINST IT WHEN THEY ARE BABIES. BUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OFTEN FADES. SO HEALTH OFFICIALS ENCOURAGE CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO HAVE BOOSTER SHOTS. BOTTOM LINE IS WHOOPING COUGH IS CONTAGIOUS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TAKING IT SERIOUSLY HERE IN ANN ARBOR. 25 AND CLIMBING WHERE THE NUMBER OF WHOOPING COUGH CASES STAND IN THE ANN ARBOR SCHOOL DISTRICT SO FAR. ALL OF THOSE DIAGNOSED ARE STUDENTS. THE SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ATTEND. PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL, SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, AND BOTH SLAWSON AND FORSYTH MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE ARE NOT SURE HOW MANY KIDS HAVE IT. BUT HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED. DISTRICT IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO TRACK THE CASE THAT IS STARTED TO POP UP A MONTH AGO. OF THOSE WITH IT. THEY HAVE NOTHING SEVERE BUT PARENTS PUT ON NOTICE. AIRBORNE. SO YOU KNOW, WE CLEAN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AIRBORNE, ANY KIND OF CLOSE CONTACT. IF YOU ARE ON A BUS, ATHLETIC TEAMS TOGETHER, IT CAN SPREAD FAST. SIMTOMS KNOWN AS PERTUSSIS INCLUDE COUGHS IN BURSTS, VOMITING AFTER COUGHING SPELLS AND A COUGH THAT LASTS A WEEK OR MORE. PEOPLE ARE SAYING LIKE JUST THEY WON'T WANT TO HANGOUT AS MUCH BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE SICK. SO THEY ARE KEEPING THE DISTANCE. THAT'S THE MESSAGE SPREADING FAST. THE SCHOOL IS VERY GOOD ABOUT TELLING THE KIDS. PLEASE DO NOT COME IF YOU ARE SICK. THAT'S GOOD. AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT THE DISTRICT IS GETTING OUT. IF YOU DO NOT FEEL WELL. STAY HOME. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY GO SEE THE DOCTOR. AS OF NOW, CLASSES RESUME, NOTHING WILL CHANGE, FOR NOW. BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. OUR BISI ONILE-ERE. REPORTING LIVE FROM ANN ARBOR. WE SHOULD TELL YOU THAT WHOOPING COUGH CAN BE DEADLY FOR BABIES.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -

Local 4 has learned an outbreak of pertussis -- better known as whooping cough -- is getting worse in the Ann Arbor school district.

Washtenaw County health officials say 25 students have confirmed cases of whooping cough. They are all students at either Pioneer High School, Slauson Middle School or Skyline High School.

"We're not sure sure how many kids may have it but have not been tested," said Liz Margolis, of Ann Arbor schools.

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